Saying NO to GMOs!

My daughter and I are trying to free our home of GMO (Genetically Modified) foods. Can you believe that man would actually try to change the DNA of the foods we eat? Ok, that was a silly question! Of course man would do that, but WHY? I know that it is with good intentions such as producing more crops and faster. However, I believe that the modifications man has made to our natural foods has had a negative impact on our health. For this reason, I am trying to say NO to GMOs! My daughter and I are doing our research on products that we buy for our family. Please refer to the Non-GMO Project Website for information on the labeling of Non-GMO products. This website provides a list of products that they have verified as Non-GMO. For the products that have not undergone the tests of the Non-GMO project, you can contact the company and find out their policy on GMO ingredients. We were happy to find out that Trader Joe's brand products and Whole Foods brand products are free of GMO ingredients. We are in the process of researching other products that we use, and I will add them to this blog as I find out about them.

Aldi's Peanut Delight Natural Creamy Peanut Butter

The company confirmed by email that this product is GMO-free. It has not been verified by the Non-GMO Project, but the company claims that the ingredients have not been genetically modified. I like this peanut butter because it does not contain hydrogenated oils, it is a good price, and it tastes great!

Flavor Your Food From Your Own Herb Garden

Since I have been eating more natural foods, I have a love for fresh herbs! My garden needs a lot of work, as you can see for yourself in the picture below, but it is getting me by right now. I grow cilantro, basil, marjoram, parsley, chives, oregano, dill, and rosemary. Cilantro is definitely my favorite. I love it for the flavor, but also for the fact that it helps in detoxification. Rosemary is another one of my favorites. It is thought to help with memory. I like to add it to a glass of water with lime... when I remember! When you eat a salad, there is no reason to add dressing when you can just top it with some fresh herbs. I also love herbs on lettuce wraps, in soups, and just about everything else! 

Edible Malabar Spinach Vines

I love my malabar spinach vines! This is the first year that we have grown them. They are beautiful and delicious! The leaves are very dense and make a good wrap that will stay together nicely. It should be noted, despite their name, they are not actually spinach. They are a summer green and are not as nutrient dense as spinach. They do contain vitamin A, folate as well as several other B vitamins, vitamin C, iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, and fiber, but in lesser amounts than spinach.

       

Chocolate Oat Bars

3/4 cup toasted gluten-free oats
1/2 cup all purpose gluten-free flour
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
2 Tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg
1/2 cup water or non-dairy milk
3 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp coconut oil (melted)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together dry ingredients in a small bowl. Mix together wet ingredients in a large bowl. Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients. Coat a 9x9 inch square pan with additional coconut oil. Bake for 20 minutes or until firm. Let cool for 10 minutes and cut into bars.

Citrus Oat Cookies

2 cups gluten free oats
4 Tbsp coconut oil
1 Tbsp non-dairy milk (almond, coconut, soy)
6 Tbsp honey
4 tsp lime juice
1 tsp lime zest
1 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt

Parchment paper is a must!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all the ingredients. Place tablespoon size mounds of mixture on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Gently press the mounds with the back of the spoon to spread them out slightly. Bake for 11 minutes or until brown. Let cool for 10 minutes before gently removing them from the parchment paper.

Soaking Adzuki Beans for Better Digestion

Me? Beans? No, thank you!!! That used to how I felt about beans, until I learned how to properly prepare them. As long as I don't overeat them, I love them and they love me! I especially like adzuki beans because they are very nutrient dense.

Rinse 1 cup of adzuki beans, put in 2 quart sauce pan. Add water to about and inch above the beans. Add 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar and 1 bay leaf. Place the pan on the stove on medium heat until the water is hot. Remove the pan from the heat and soak for 24 hours. Rinse, add fresh water and vinegar, and reheat twice during the soaking. When you are ready to cook them, rinse the beans, add fresh water and 1 garlic clove cut in half. Cook on medium heat 2 hours or until soft.

Chicken Pot Pie

whole chicken
1 1/2 cups chicken broth reserved from cooking the whole chicken
3 medium carrots sliced in circles
2 celery stalks diced
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/3 cup frozen corn
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion flakes
1/4 tsp. black pepper
salt to taste  (if you cooked your chicken with salt, then you may not need any additional salt)
1 cup any gluten-free baking mix
1/2 cup milk (coconut or almond)
1 egg

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Place whole chicken in stock pot and cover with water. Add 1 Tbsp. salt. Boil for 1 hour. Remove the chicken and discard the skin and bones. Skim the fat from the top of the chicken broth. You will need 1 1/2 cups chicken and 1 1/2 cups broth for this recipe. (You can freeze the remaining broth and chicken in these amounts for when you would like to do this recipe again. I freeze 1 1/2 cups chicken and 1 1/2 cups broth in a quart sized mason jar. Never fill the mason jar close to the top to freeze, because it will expand and break the jar.) Combine 1 1/2 cups chicken and 1 1/2 cups, carrots, celery, peas, corn, garlic powder, onion flakes and pepper and place in a greased 8x12 inch baking dish. In a small bowl, combine gluten-free baking mix, milk, and egg. Spoon the mix over the top of the chicken and vegetables. It doesn't have to cover the top perfectly, because it will expand as it cooks. Bake for 35 minutes or until a light brown.

*You can also use a gluten-free cornbread mix for the crust.